Most GPs disagree with the chief medical officer and believe alcohol can be part of a healthy lifestyle
Most GPs disagree with the comments made by the UK's chief medical officer (CMO) in January that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, new research shows.
The poll, conducted by medeConnect for the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), found 60 per cent of GPs surveyed disagreed with the guidance from CMO Sally Davies, which broke with international precedent by providing the same guidelines for men and women.
The statements also adopted a "very low" threshold of 14 units per week and stated that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Read more: Alcohol can help your heart – so why is the CMO ignoring this?
Almost two thirds, 63 per cent, of GPs considered that moderate alcohol can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
Numerous scientific studies, some of which show that moderate drinking can have a protective effect against health problems including cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and certain forms of cancer, were ignored in the guidelines, Camra claims.
Camra's national chairman, Colin Valentine, said:
We made the observation when the new guidelines were published that the chief medical officer had ignored evidence which showed that moderate drinking can have a beneficial effect.
Only recently, we commissioned a report with Oxford University "Friends on Tap" which found that those who had a local pub were happier, healthier, and felt more integrated in their communities than those without.
Furthermore, research has shown that the mortality rate of moderate drinkers is lower than those who abstain altogether.
The campaign group has said it is now calling on the Department of Health to launch a full public consultation into whether the new alcohol health guidelines are "fit for purpose and adequately supported by evidence".